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1990s rap band 'no longer in fashion' behind 'cop threatening' video

Police launched an investigation after the seemingly threatening video went viral on social media

Andrew Buncombe
New York
Wednesday 07 October 2015 13:36 BST
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Police launched an investigation after the seemingly threatening video went viral on social media
Police launched an investigation after the seemingly threatening video went viral on social media

It must have seemed like a good idea at the time, and you can imagine the conversation:

“We’re so out of fashion, we’ve got to do something to get back on MTV, along with with Kanye and Taylor.” “Yeah, what about making a video where it looks like someone is about to shoot a police officer. Wouldn’t that be cool??!”

And that, it appears, is what lay behind a mysterious piece of video that appeared to show an armed man threatening an unsuspecting police officer, and which last week went viral on the internet.

Police in Los Angeles have now revealed the footage was actually filmed by an old rap group, looking to somehow stage a comeback. It was filmed for “for entertainment purposes only and was not a credible threat to police officers”, though police have issued an arrest warrant concerned with an outstanding firearms offence, police said.

“The investigation revealed that the film was made by members of an early 1990s rap group no longer in fashion,” the Los Angeles Police Department said, without identifying the group.

“The film was made and posted on social media to ignite a comeback by the rap group.”

The footage initially sparked concern at a time of heightened tension between police and minority communities across the US, following a series of high-profile killings of black suspects. There have also been a number of fatal attacks on police officers, though the total number appears to be down.

“It’s completely frightening, and I know that a lot of the wives are scared,” an unidentified member of the LAPD Wives Association told CBS.

“They just want to do their job, and yet all this hatred is coming at them and it’s just becoming more and more violent.”

Now underway on social media, is the attempt to work out just which has-beens were so in need of all this embarrassing publicity.

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